Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Opa]

Once again our starts with falling snow. Will ot ever end?

 

[uchytil]

On their website, they list "assorted bantams." In the past, that assortment has included silkies, du'ccles (porcelain and mille de fleur) and a few breeds that I wasn't interested in.
I know. I was 1/2 way through a request PM, when I remembered the mg.

@RaZ and @uchytil I went to a sap workshop today. It turns out that the huge maples in our backyard are Norway Maples, and not usable for sap. I had no idea. We have backup trees away from the house. Uchytil, how long might it take (on average, I know there's a huge spread) to fill a 3 gallon bucket?

There's no answer for that really. Trees respond to so many variables. Just tap as many trees as you can and you'll see which ones are responding that day. Have a sled handy if there's snow. Carrying out buckets is no fun. It really comes down to heat. Warm 40 degree days and freezing nights are when those trees bleed. If you work all day I suggest using a 5 gallon bucket on the ground with large diameter tubing running straight down into it. Avoid bends and small tubing. My invention is a standard 7/16 inch tap, a rubber bushing over the output that makes a piece of rigid PEX 1/2 inch tubing tight. Into a bucket with a lid. This way I can let the tree do it's thing and I dont have to worry about the bucket falling off the tree, or overflowing and losing sap.

 

[1muttsfan]

Glambka, congratulations - your eggs are so lovely, good to hear they are being recognized.

 

[uchytil]

There's no answer for that really. Trees respond to so many variables. Just tap as many trees as you can and you'll see which ones are responding that day. Have a sled handy if there's snow. Carrying out buckets is no fun. It really comes down to heat. Warm 40 degree days and freezing nights are when those trees bleed. If you work all day I suggest using a 5 gallon bucket on the ground with large diameter tubing running straight down into it. Avoid bends and small tubing. My invention is a standard 7/16 inch tap, a rubber bushing over the output that makes a piece of rigid PEX 1/2 inch tubing tight. Into a bucket with a lid. This way I can let the tree do it's thing and I dont have to worry about the bucket falling off the tree, or overflowing and losing sap.

Oh sorry, and a 90 degree PEX elbow. You can get the PEX at Lowes preety cheap. Or ask a plumber for some scrap - usually free. You only need maybe 3 feet at most. I put my taps about belly button height, lol!

 

[taprock]

You guys are really positive thinkers. Since November - week before Thanksgiving, we have had 1 day - 12 hours above freezing here. I know sap only needs above freezing but even that at this point seems far off. I sure hope I'm wrong! When I see trees tapped I always have the urge to go drink out of the tree. That is a memory from childhood. My mom would be collecting and I would be drinking the sap. I got yelled at about that a lot!

Had a nice snowshoe with the dog yesterday. I also got my first egg from my Malay hen. It is big for a first egg. Bigger than the Polish eggs are normally. Still no egg from my modern game.

 

[uchytil]

What do you look for when it is time to tap the maples? Is it temperature?
I want to tap my tree this year.

40 degree days and freezing nights. I posted some other stuff before I saw your question.

 

[Our Roost]

ladyrsanti, barbeque spit motor by chance?

 

[RaZ]

Positive thinking all the way, Tap.
In spite of the snow falling, I am going to the motorcycle swap meet today. (They make snow tires for Harleys, right?)

Good tips for tapping the trees. I have to get my stuff together right away. A buddy from NH is sending me some of his old equipment.

 

[aart]

Even tho it's still pretty cold...and snowing here (2-5 by tomorrow night)...the forecast next week for a few days above freezing is very much welcome! We're over the hump!

Have always wanted to tap trees for syrup,
but the thought of the cost and amount of the fuel burned to boil it down,
not to mention the equipment needed, always put me off....
...no wonder real maple syrup is so expensive!!

 

[Amy PT]

When my BIL was doing smaller batches of syrup (first few years) we helped with a lot of it and it depends on the weather and how much sun the tree would get. Some trees would overflow a few 5gal buckets before lunch and then again at dinner and others would barely fill the 3 or so buckets on it in a whole day.

There's no answer for that really. Trees respond to so many variables. Just tap as many trees as you can and you'll see which ones are responding that day. Have a sled handy if there's snow. Carrying out buckets is no fun. It really comes down to heat. Warm 40 degree days and freezing nights are when those trees bleed. If you work all day I suggest using a 5 gallon bucket on the ground with large diameter tubing running straight down into it. Avoid bends and small tubing. My invention is a standard 7/16 inch tap, a rubber bushing over the output that makes a piece of rigid PEX 1/2 inch tubing tight. Into a bucket with a lid. This way I can let the tree do it's thing and I dont have to worry about the bucket falling off the tree, or overflowing and losing sap.

Thanks to both of you. The other place I'm considering is 30 minutes away, so I wasn't sure if I could get away with going out there every other day, or if it was more of an on-site deal. Our nature center (which we love) is doing a new community collection program. They are collecting sap from willing participants, and will boil it down to the syrup to sell for a fundraiser. I'm only doing 2 taps, so it won't be that much work (I think...). If this goes well this year, we'll collect and keep our own in the future.